“Betty Ann practically runs this town,” Mary said.
“Maybe so, but I can always use a hand with it,” Betty Ann said, chuckling. “So, if things get quiet in the wintertime, don’t sit around bored, young man. Just give me a call and we’ll put you to work volunteering. There are better things to do than watch television.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Dalton said, impressed.
“Now, I’ll take two pounds, please,” Betty Ann said. “I’m going to make pies.”
“Sweet potato pies?” Dalton asked, his mouth practically watering at the thought.
“Of course,” Betty Ann said, handing Mary a few bills and taking two clear plastic bags of sweet potatoes from her. “They’re nicer than pumpkin, in my opinion. Though don’t tell Alice Cassidy I said so.”
“Alice and Joe own Cassidy Farm,” Mary explained. “They sell pumpkins and pumpkin pie there, among other things.”
“Lots of other things,” Betty Ann said. “Speaking of which, I’ve got to keep moving. I want to get to Mallory’s booth before she sells out of raisin scones. See you around town, young man. Have a nice day, Mary, and thanks for the sweet potatoes.”
As she headed off, Dove scampered through the crowd to rejoin them.
“That was fun,” Dove told her grandmother, giving her a quick hug.
“I’m so glad,” Mary said. “Maybe when you get older, you can volunteer at the shelter.”
“I’ll help all the animals,” Dove said, nodding with a solemn expression.
“Was that Betty Ann?” Ella asked as she caught up with Dove.
“Sure was,” Mary answered. “She’s planning to make her sweet potato pies this weekend.”
Another customer came up before they could continue their conversation, and then another. Ella jumped to work, taking orders and making change while Mary and Dove filled the bags.
Ella greeted everyone by name and talked with them about the weather, the harvest, the events over at the school, and everything else under the sun.
She wasn’t just kind to him. Ella was a person who noticed things about others. And whether it was letting them talk about their worries for a moment in spite of the line, chuckling at a terrible joke, or even making the half-pound order a whole pound, and whisperingIt’s on the houseto the lady in the worn coat and boots holding hands with two little girls wearing too-small hand-me-downs.
He had already noticed that Ella was beautiful, but she’d never seemed more beautiful than she was today, caring for her tiny flock of friends and neighbors with everything she had, all while her own heart was still broken.
Dalton had been attracted to plenty of women in his time. But something about watching Ella today made his chest ache.
Before he knew it, their stock was all but gone and the morning had ripened into afternoon.
“You should take Dove and do something fun,” Mary told Ella quietly when the line had finally disappeared.
The idea gave Dalton pleasure. The little girl had worked tirelessly all morning beside her family, without a single complaint. Even if it seemed like she enjoyed the work, she had definitely earned herself some fun.
“Thanks, Ma,” Ella said with a smile for her mother.
“And take Dalton with you,” Mary suggested. “He should see what this town is all about.”
Ella turned to Dalton and he tried to quickly compose his expression. But he figured it was too late, and she probably saw the naked hope on his face that maybe a bit of her sweetness would extend to him today.
“What do you think?” she asked with a gentle smile. “Do you want to see the sights with us?”
“Yes,” he told her gratefully. “Thank you. As long as you two don’t mind?”
Dove was already beaming up at him.
“I’ll show youeverything,Dalton,”she told him, grabbing his hand.
He couldn’t keep the smile off his face as the charming little girl took him by the hand. Something about Dove’s confidence made him feel anchored.
